Another day, another trail… part 2

 

Female bluebird along the Prairie Trail. The brilliant yellow Arrowleaf Balsamroot flowers were in full bloom on the mountain sides. Photograph by Matthew Podolsky.

Accompanying us on our bluebird trip Monday to Prairie, Idaho was an extended family with members visiting all the way from Alaska. With the family were four kiddos; all of whom were very excited to see bluebirds up close. It is surprising how many people have never seen a bluebird before, but when they see that first bright blue flash it is a moment they will never forget. These kids were lucky enough to encounter two bluebird boxes along the trail where Al needed to band nestlings before they fledged. We also encountered a box where a Flying Squirrel had decided to build a nest!

Flying Squirrel in a bluebird box. Still image from video by Matthew Podolsky.

As Al finished banding each young bird, he carefully passed them to one of the kids to hold briefly before placing them back in the nest box. The kids were so gentle with the birds and yet excited at the same time. To be holding a young bluebird!! Not many kids can say they have done that, and what an exciting moment for them. Part of the impetus for creating Bluebird Man is to show people the enthusiasm kids and other people have for these birds, and hopefully that feeling will rub off on more than a few people who watch the film.

Kids with a Mountain Bluebird nestling. Still image from video by Matthew Podolsky.

Al bands all the nestling bluebirds he can find before they reach fledging age. Each bird receives a uniquely-numbered federal aluminum band that identifies that bird. That way if a bird is recaptured later, we can learn more about bluebird movements and breeding habits. He can’t band the nestlings too early, as the birds are too small and delicate. There is only a brief window between this time and fledging when bands can be placed on birds safely. As the breeding season progresses Al will be ramping up his banding efforts. To date, he has banded close to 27,000 nestling bluebirds over his 35 years of work!

Nestling Western Bluebirds (too young to band). Photograph by Neil Paprocki. Al banding a nestling bluebird. Still image from video by Matthew Podolsky.

Friday we will be heading out to Jordan Valley with Al. Jordan Valley is located on the Oregon side of the Owyhee Mountains. This location holds a special place in Al’s heart as he spent much of his childhood near Jordan Valley. After both his parents passed away, he lived with his two brothers in what he describes as “an old moonshiner’s shack”. Now Al has close to 35 bluebird boxes near Jordan Valley, and we look forward to updating everyone following that trip.

Male Mountain Bluebird. Photograph by Neil Paprocki.